Greene County Parks & Nature Preserves

The following list of parks and preserves includes those managed by federal, state, county, and non-governmental agencies (such as the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, various historical societies, etc.).

We have tried to collect information on the activities and facilities available at various parks, but things may change without us knowing about it. So please double-check the information at the official site (click on the park’s name to go there).

Beaver Creek Wetland Nature Preserve (County)

• Location: Entrance to the reserve is through Phillips Park, just east of Orchard Lane off Dayton-Xenia Road
• Park size: 76 acres
• Total trail length: 1.26 miles
• Good site for bird watching

Beaver Creek Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 380 acres, including a 50–acre freshwater fen
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Good site for bird watching
• Handicap accessible: The boardwalk is supposed to be handicap accessible.
• This unique wildlife area contains five of six wetland types found in Ohio, including shrub swamp, wet meadow, and wooded riparian corridor. There is both a boardwalk and observation tower to make viewing the area easier. 79 species of birds breed here.
• Wildlife Area Map for Beaver Creek Wildlife Area

Caesar Creek Lake Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 3,100 acres
• Dog friendly
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Good site for bird watching
• Meadow and grain crops cover about 50 percent of the wildlife area and woodlands make up about 40 percent with the remaining 10 percent experiencing succession. There are boat launch facilities.
• Wildlife Area Map for Caesar Creek Lake Wildlife Area

Cemex Reserve (County)

• Location: From Garland Avenue near I-675 in Fairborn, turn onto Sanctuary Drive to enter the reserve’s access road and parking area
• Park size: 164 acres
• Good site for bird watching
• Loop trail, wetlands

Clifton Gorge (State Nature Preserve)

• 2331 State Route 343 Yellow Springs, Ohio 45387
• GPS coordinates: N39.799437,W83.833709
• Park size: 268 acres
• Total trail length: 3 miles
• Dogs not permitted
• Restrooms (There is a port–a–potty near the Nature Center.)
• Clifton Gorge is the result of erosion by a large meltwater river originating from the waning Wisconsinan continental glacier. Scenic waterfalls and rapids are among the attractions here. A large variety of plants grow in and near the gorge, among them red baneberry, the wall rue fern, hepatica and snow trillium. The remains of two pioneer mills are still visible. There is a Nature center on site. This is one of the most visited sites in Ohio’s system of state nature preservers.
• Brochure
• Location on Google Maps
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Clifton Gorge

Creekside Bikeway (Bike Path)

• Total trail length: 17.9 miles

Creekside Reserve (County)

• Location: Parking is available at EJ Nutter Park and Girl Scout Community Par
• Park size: 136 acres
• Hiking trails

Glen Helen Nature Preserve (Glen Helen Ecology Institute.(NGO))

• 505 Corry Street, Yellow Springs, Ohio
• Trail map
• Park size: 1,000 acres
• Total trail length: 25 miles
• Dog friendly
• Fishing not permitted
• No camping, except for the preserve-sponsored eco-camps.
• Restrooms
• In addition to the extensive nature trails, there is a Trailside museum, Nature Shop, Atrium Gallery (featuring local artists) and a Raptor Center for injured birds of prey. During the summer there are eco-camps in both a day camp offering and an overnight camp. Notable sites in the preserve include a restored mill, a covered bridge, a quarry pond, a waterfall on Birch Creek, and a Hopewell Indian Mound.
• 69 species of wildflowers and 153 species of birds have been sighted in the preserve.
• Location on Google Maps
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Glen Helen Nature Preserve

Glenn Thompson Reserve (County)

• Park size: 49 acres
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Hiking trails, picnic area

Indian Mound Reserve (County)

• Location: The park is located just west of Cedarville, on U.S. Route 42.
• Park size: 169 acres
• Native American Mound, gorge, falls, hiking, spring wildflowers
• Brochure
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Indian Mound Reserve

John Bryan (State Park)

• 3790 State Route 370, Yellow Springs, OH 45387
• GPS coordinates: N39.791927,W83.867751
• Trail map
• Park size: 752 acres
• Total trail length: 11.4 miles
• Dog friendly
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Rock climbing
• At least some parts are handicap accessible
• Camp sites
• Mountain bike trails
• Cross country ski trails
• Restrooms
• Attractions include canoeing, sledding, disc golf (soon), and an Astronomical observatory. A Rock climbing and rappelling area has also been established within the park. Winter activities include sledding and cross–country skiing.
• Campground Map
• Park Map for John Bryan
• Location on Google Maps
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of John Bryan

Kinsey Mound (County)

• Park size: 5 acres
• Adena mound

Narrows Reserve and Nature Center (County)

• Park size: 162 acres
• Total trail length: 4 miles
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Good site for bird watching
• Camp sites
• Nature center, primitive camping
• Brochure

Russ Nature Reserve (County)

• Park size: 90 acres
• Trails, playscape, butterfly garden
• Brochure

Sara Lee Arnovitz Nature Preserve (County)

• Park size: 42 acres
• Wetland with trails and boardwalk

Spring Lakes Park (County)

• Park size: 23 acres
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Fishing – county permit required
• Brochure

Spring Valley Wildlife Area (State Wildlife Area)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 842 acres
• Fishing (check the official site to see if there are any restrictions)
• Archery range
• Firearms range
• Hunting when in season with license. Please visit park web site for details.
• Good site for bird watching
• Handicap accessible: There is a handicap accessible Electric APV Trail – Permit Required.
• 2.5 mile observation trail around marsh for bird watchers
• Wildlife Area Map for Spring Valley Wildlife Area
• TrekOhio photos and descriptions of Spring Valley Wildlife Area

Tecumseh Preserve (Little Miami Inc. (NGO))

• Park size: 82 acres
• Permit required
• Contact Little Miami, Inc. for information

Travertine Fen (State Nature Preserve)

• Location: See above link for driving directions and maps.
• Park size: 21 acres
• Permit required
• Contact Greene County Park District for information

Twin Towers Park (County)

• Park size: 102 acres
• Bridle trails
• Camp sites
• Equestrian center, dog training area, RC glider area, soccer fields
• Brochure

Zimmerman Prairie (State Nature Preserve)

• GPS coordinates: N39.725882,W84.069876 (surmised from description of the location)
• Location: Located on a small section of land bordered by US Route 35, Research Boulevard (SR 835) and a railroad right–of–way (H–connection bikeway).
• Park size: 3 acres
• Permit required
• This small preserve consists of a prairie fen with a number of rare plants such as queen–of–the–prairie, Riddell’s goldenrod, prairie dock, big bluestem, Indian grass and Ohio goldenrod. From the description I am guessing the preserve’s GPS coordinates and location on Google Maps. Apparently there are no facilities here, not even a pull–off or driveway. If you park along US Route 35, the official site advises you to exercise caution.
• Location on Google Maps

Last Update: 2017-09-26 20:43:24